Entry 184: Rethinking the Prologue

I’ve never been good at keeping a journal. It all boils down to consistency. There are days when I skip making an entry. Life can crowd out the time I need to write down my thoughts about a day’s events. I’ve also been reluctant to pose as an expert on the writing process. If I knew anything of value about writing, my work would already be in print. I went out on a skinny limb in 2022 when I shared my 365 days of thankfulness. The exercise forced me to put myself out there with my soft belly exposed. Thank you for joining me on my journey in the written word. Therefore, I plan to keep a journal in 2023 to document my progress. I will call this post Entry 184: Rethinking the Prologue.

Note: I consider editing an important part of the writing process. Editing is where all the artistry happens.

My morning writing before I started Entry 184: Rethinking the Prologue

I moved through several chapters of Amazing Buchanan and the Beast during my morning pages before I looked at the Prologue. If I decide to cut this story anywhere, I will start here. Grace Plumber has worked for the family for twenty years. This fact makes her the perfect person to give a short backstory. I need to ask myself how much I want to give away up front. I think knowing why Ivy put the rougarou curse on Will is important. His motivation for helping Amazing is also important.

I wrote two poems I was not happy with yesterday, and I thought of ditching them. Whenever I considered doing this in the past, they were the poems people liked the most. Go figure. I am also writing short posts about the adventure Rooster and have returned home.

The book I am currently reading right now and Entry 184: Rethinking the Prologue

I am nearing the end of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. Marianne gets sick in Cleveland. Colonel Brandon goes to bring her mother to her side. Willoughby shows up thinking she is about to die. He confesses his true feelings to Elinor about his love for Marianne. After their conversation, she has a better opinion of him, but it doesn’t change anything.

I plan to start reading Northanger Abby next, followed by Persuasion. It is turning into a Jane Austin summer in the big pink house on the corner.

What I’m listening to right now and Entry 184: Rethinking the Prologue

I listened to the Avett Brothers I and Love and You on the stereo. I love how they combined several different styles of music to create their sound.

Who is Molly Shea?

Molly Shea is an accomplished fictional short story writer from Indiana who writes short stories and novels about a fictional town called Tecumseh.  To read more of her short stories and adventures, click here.

Be sure to follow Molly on Twitter!